Portable toilet combination

ABSTRACT

A portable toilet includes a toilet seat having an opening formed in a seat member, a container disposed below the seat member and having a chamber aligned with the opening of the seat member, a number of arms attached to the outer peripheral portion of the seat member for supporting a number of base stakes and extension poles and for forming a frame, and a canvas covered on the frame for shielding the user and for forming an outdoor toilet and for allowing the portable toilet to be folded to a compact folding structure that is excellent for storing and transportation purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable toilet combination, and more particularly to a portable toilet combination including a foldable structure for allowing the portable toilet combination to be folded into a compact folding structure that is excellent for storing and transportation purposes.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various kinds of typical portable toilet combinations have been developed and comprise a toilet seat for supporting a user, and a shelter or frame having a canvas covered on the outer peripheral portion thereof for enclosing or shielding the user and for forming an outdoor toilet.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,142 to Gray discloses one of the typical foldable privacy screen and portable toilet combinations comprising a frame type covered in canvas around three sides of a folding frame supporting a toilet seat, and the frame folds flat and is provided with a handle for ease of carrying, storage and transport.

However, the folding frame is pivotally coupled to the toilet seat such that the folding frame and the toilet seat may not be easily separated from each other and may not be suitably folded into a compact folding structure. In addition, the partition frame also includes longitudinal rods or posts that also may not be suitably folded into a compact folding structure.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,718,565 to Cruz discloses one of the typical portable toilet shelters comprising a side wall structure supporting assembly for supporting the side wall structure upon a ground, and a frame attached to the roof member.

However, similarly, the side wall structure supporting assembly also includes longitudinal rods or posts that also may not be suitably folded into a compact folding structure.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional portable toilet combinations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a portable toilet combination including a foldable structure for allowing the portable toilet combination to be folded into a compact folding structure that is excellent for storing and transportation purposes.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a portable toilet combination comprising a toilet seat including a seat member having an opening formed in the seat member for supporting a user, the seat member including an outer peripheral portion, a container disposed below the seat member and including a chamber formed therein and aligned with the opening of the seat member, a number of arms attached to the outer peripheral portion of the seat member, a number of base stakes attached to the arms, a number of extension poles attached onto the base stakes for forming a frame, and a canvas covered on the frame for shielding the user and for forming an outdoor toilet and for allowing the portable toilet to be folded to a compact folding structure.

The toilet seat includes at least one rail attached to a bottom portion of the seat member for engaging with the container. The container includes an upper peripheral flange for engaging with the rail of the seat member and for detachably attaching the container to the seat member.

The seat member includes number of orifices formed in the outer peripheral portion of the seat member, and the arms each include an engaging end segment for engaging with the orifices of the seat member. The orifices of the seat member include a non-circular cross section, and the engaging end segments of the arms include a non-circular cross section corresponding to that of the orifices of the seat member and for engaging with the non-circular orifices of the seat member.

The canvas includes a number of corner areas for engaging with the frame, and a number of retaining members attached to the corner areas of the canvas for engaging with the extension poles and for detachably securing the canvas to the frame.

The canvas includes at least one cable coupled to the extension poles for anchoring purposes. The canvas includes a roof member selectively and detachably attached onto an upper portion of the canvas. The canvas includes a door panel for selectively opening and enclosing the canvas. The canvas includes a coupling device for openably securing the door panel to the canvas.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial exploded view of a portable toilet combination in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another partial exploded view of the portable toilet combination;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan schematic view of the portable toilet combination;

FIG. 4 is a front plan schematic view illustrating a toilet seat of the portable toilet combination;

FIG. 5 is a further partial exploded view illustrating a shelter of the portable toilet combination;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view illustrating the operation of the portable toilet combination; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the assembled portable toilet combination.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a portable toilet combination 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a toilet seat 10 including a seat plate or seat member 11 having an opening 12 formed in the seat member 11 for discharging purposes, and the seat member 11 includes an outer peripheral portion 13 having one or more orifices 14 formed therein. It is preferable that the orifices 14 of the seat member 11 include a non-circular cross section, such as a square cross section. The seat member 11 further includes one or more rails 15 (FIGS. 2-4) attached or secured to the bottom portion 16 thereof for attaching or coupling a bucket or container 20.

For example, the container 20 includes an upper peripheral flange 21 extended radially and outwardly from the upper portion thereof for slidably engaging with the rails 15 and for detachably attaching or securing the container 20 to the seat member 11 of the toilet seat 10. The container 20 includes a chamber 22 formed therein and aligned with the opening 12 of the seat member 11.for receiving the discharges or the like, and for allowing the container 20 to be easily disengaged from the rails 15 of the seat member 11 and to be quickly cleaned after use. The toilet seat 10 may also include a foldable structure which is not related to the present invention and will not be described in further details.

One or more arms 30, such as four arms 30 each include an L-shape having a short engaging end segment 31 for engaging with or into the corresponding orifices 14 of the seat member 11, and each also include a non-circular cross section, such as a square cross section for engaging with the corresponding non-circular orifices 14 of the seat member 11 and for allowing the arms 30 to be solidly attached or secured to the outer peripheral portion 13 of the seat member 11 of the toilet seat 10 at the required or predetermined position or location or direction. For example, the arms 30 are preferably arranged or supported on a horizontal status for allowing the arms 30 to be arranged or supported in a horizontal plan parallel to the seat member 11 and to be located around the outer peripheral portion of the seat member 11 of the toilet seat 10, best shown in FIGS. 1-3.

The arms 30 each include a longer beam 32 having a length greater than that of the short engaging end segment 31 of the arms 30, and having a cavity 33 formed in the free end portion 34 thereof. A number of (such as four) base stakes 35 each include a narrowed engaging stud 36 provided on the lower portion thereof for engaging into the corresponding cavities 33 of the beams 32 of the arms 30 and for supporting the base stakes 35 at an erect or vertical position that is perpendicular to the beams 32 of the arms 30 respectively. A number of extension poles 37 each also include a narrowed engaging stud 38 provided on the lower portion thereof for engaging into the corresponding apertures 39 of the base stakes 35 or of the other extension poles 37.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the extension poles 37 may be removably or disengageably or selectively engaged onto the base stakes 35 and for forming four erected or vertical and disengageable posts 3 or for forming a four-post frame 3 (FIG. 1) and for supporting a shield 4. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5-7, the shield 4 include a canvas 40 covered on the outer peripheral portion of the posts or frame 3 for enclosing or shielding the user and for forming an outdoor toilet 1. The canvas 40 includes four sides 41, and four corner areas 42 for engaging with the posts or frame 3, and one or more retaining members 43 attached to the corner areas 42 thereof for engaging with either or all of the base stakes 35 or of the extension poles 37 and thus for detachably attaching or securing the canvas 40 onto the posts or frame 3.

The canvas 40 includes a door panel 44 formed or provided in the front portion thereof and openably secured to the canvas 40 with a coupling device 45, such as a zipper, a hook and loop engaging device, or the like, and for allowing the door panel 44 to be selectively opened or enclosed and thus for allowing the users to easily enter into or to move out of a space 46 of the canvas 40. The canvas 40 or the shield 4 includes a roof member 47 having one or more flaps 48 extended downwardly therefrom for engaging onto or around the upper and outer peripheral portion of the canvas 40 and for optionally or selectively enclosing the open upper portion of the canvas 40 or the shield 4. The roof member 47 includes one or more coupling or fastening members 49, such as buckles, hook and loop engaging members 49 or the like attached to each of the flaps 48 for openably and detachably securing or attaching onto the upper portion of the canvas 40 or the shield 4.

In assembling, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rails 15 may first be attached or secured to the bottom portion 16 of the seat member 11 for attaching or coupling the container 20 to the bottom portion 16 of the seat member 11. The arms 30 may then be attached or secured to the outer peripheral portion of the seat member 11 of the toilet seat 10 for attaching or supporting the base stakes 35 and the extension poles 37 and thus for forming the posts or frame 3. The canvas 40 may then be attached or secured or engaged onto the posts or frame 3 for enclosing or shielding the toilet seat 10 and for forming an outdoor toilet 1 and for allowing the toilet seat 10 and the posts or frame 3 and the canvas 40 to be coupled or assembled together as a unit or assembly. The roof member 47 may then be optionally or selectively engaged onto the upper portion of the canvas 40 for enclosing the open upper portion of the canvas 40 or the shield 4.

As shown in FIGS. 6-7, when using or locating in a windy environment, one or more poles or ropes or cables 50 may further be provided and coupled to the upper extension poles 37 or the like, and anchored to the ground, preferably before the roof member 47 is attached or engaged onto the upper portion of the canvas 40, for solidly or stably anchor or secure or position the portable toilet combination 1 to the ground at the required or selected position.

After use, the roof member 47 may first be optionally or selectively disengaged from the upper portion of the canvas 40, and the canvas 40 may then be removed or disengaged from the posts or frame 3, the base stakes 35 and the extension poles 37 may then be removed or disengaged from the arms 30, the arms 30 may then be removed or disengaged from the seat member 11 of the toilet seat 10, and the container 20 may then be removed or disengaged from the bottom portion 16 of the seat member 11 for allowing the portable toilet combination 1 to be folded to a compact folding structure that is excellent for storing and transportation purposes and that may be easily carried with the users for outdoor activities.

Accordingly, the portable toilet combination in accordance with the present invention includes a foldable structure for allowing the portable toilet combination to be folded into a compact folding structure that is excellent for storing and transportation purposes.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A portable toilet combination comprising: a toilet seat including a seat member having an opening formed in said seat member for supporting a user, said seat member including an outer peripheral portion, a container disposed below said seat member and including a chamber formed therein and aligned with said opening of said seat member, a plurality of arms attached to said outer peripheral portion of said seat member, a plurality of base stakes attached to said arms, a plurality of extension poles attached onto said base stakes for forming a frame, and a canvas covered on said frame for shielding the user and for forming an outdoor toilet.
 2. The portable toilet combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toilet seat includes at least one rail attached to a bottom portion of said seat member for engaging with said container.
 3. The portable toilet combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein said container includes an upper peripheral flange for engaging with said at least one rail of said seat member and for detachably attaching said container to said seat member.
 4. The portable toilet combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seat member includes plurality of orifices formed in said outer peripheral portion of said seat member, and said arms each include an engaging end segment for engaging with said orifices of said seat member.
 5. The portable toilet combination as claimed in claim 4, wherein said orifices of said seat member include a non-circular cross section, and said engaging end segments of said arms include a non-circular cross section corresponding to that of said orifices of said seat member and for engaging with said non-circular orifices of said seat member.
 6. The portable toilet combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said canvas includes a door panel for selectively opening and enclosing said canvas.
 7. The portable toilet combination as claimed in claim 6, wherein said canvas includes a coupling device for openably securing said door panel to said canvas.
 8. The portable toilet combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said canvas includes a plurality of corner areas for engaging with said frame, and a plurality of retaining members attached to said corner areas of said canvas for engaging with said extension poles and for detachably securing said canvas to said frame.
 9. The portable toilet combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said canvas includes at least one cable coupled to said extension poles for anchoring purposes.
 10. The portable toilet combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said canvas includes a roof member selectively and detachably attached onto an upper portion of said canvas. 